Hludana, also called Dea Hludana, is a Germanic goddess attested in five Latin votive inscriptions from the Rhineland and Frisia dating between AD 197 and 235, one of them, from Beetgum in Frisia, dedicated by a group of fishermen and originally accompanied by a carving of a seated goddess. Her name, meaning fame, has been linked by scholars to the early organization of the Franks, and the philologist Jacob Grimm proposed identifying her with the Norse earth goddess Hlodyn, though no connection between her and the later folklore figure Holda has ever been established.
Facts
Attestation
Era of Attestation Veneration TodayHistorically attested; no continuous cult 3 HistoricityNot a historical person: a divine or other-than-human being 1 Belief
TheologyPolytheistic: many gods 1 Function
Domain / Function Sources
1. The Facts on File Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend
Anthony S. Mercatante, revised and expanded by James R. Dow, Facts on File
2. Hludana (Wikipedia)
lead states 'attested in five ancient Latin inscriptions from the Rhineland and Frisia, all dating from 197-235 AD'View the Source 3. Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs
John Lindow, Oxford University Press
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.